Ways to say it
| Thai | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| บิล | bin | /bin˧/ |
| ใบเก็บเงิน | bai-gèp-ngən | /baj˧.kep̚˨˩.ŋɤn˧/ |
Both terms refer to an invoice. In restaurants, you may also encounter the phrase เช็คบิล, which is borrowed from English or the verb phrase เก็บเงิน used to ask to be charged or to have the money collected.
What does it mean word for word?
The term ใบเก็บเงิน is composed of ใบ (sheet/piece of paper), เก็บ (to collect) and เงิน (money), literally meaning 'sheet for collecting money'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The loanword บิล is common in casual, everyday settings like shops or restaurants. The phrase เช็คบิล is also used in informal settings, such as among friends or at local eateries.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of บิล is bin.
When do people say it?
When dining out, instead of specifically asking for a 'bill', customers often use the phrase เก็บเงิน to signal that they are ready to pay and want the money collected.
Did you know?
- When using the phrase เก็บเงิน to ask for the bill, Thais often accompany the words with a hand gesture that mimics writing in the air to signal the waiter to 'write down' the total.
- The term เก็บเงิน literally means 'collect money', and can be used both to ask for a bill at a restaurant and to describe the act of saving money for the future.
- Although บิล is a loanword from English, it is pronounced with a final 'n' sound because the 'l' sound at the end of a syllable is typically converted to 'n' in Thai phonology.
Examples in context
- เช็คบิลหน่อยครับCheck, please.
- ช่วยเขียนบิลให้หน่อยค่ะchuai khian bin hai noi khaPlease write the bill for me.
- ขอบิลด้วยค่ะkho bin duai khaCan I have the bill, please?
- บิลนี้ราคาเท่าไหร่ครับbin ni ra-kha thao-rai khrapHow much is this bill?
Example conversation
At a small cafe, a woman asks for the bill after finishing her meal.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanเก็บเงินด้วยค่ะkep ngen duai khaCheck, please.
- วิทวัส Witthawatได้ครับ นี่คือบิลครับdai khrap. ni khue bin khrapCertainly. Here is the bill.
- กนกวรรณ Kanokwanรวมทั้งหมดเท่าไหร่คะruam thang-mot thao-rai khaHow much is it in total?
- วิทวัส Witthawatทั้งหมดสามร้อยบาทครับthang-mot sam-roi bat khrapIt is three hundred baht in total.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bill” translations and entries บิล, ใบเก็บเงิน, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
